Southern Pacific Railroad

The Southern Pacific Railroad {{Reporting mark|SP}} was an American railroad. The railroad was founded as a land holding company in 1865, forming part of the Central Pacific Railroad empire.

Related Topics:
American - Railroad - 1865 - Central Pacific Railroad

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It was 52 838 km long.

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By 1900, the Southern Pacific Company had grown into a major railroad system that incorporated a lot of smaller companies, such as the Texas and New Orleans Railroad and Morgan's Louisiana and Texas Railroad, and that extended from New Orleans through Texas to El Paso, across New Mexico and through Tucson, Arizona, to Los Angeles, throughout most of California including San Francisco and Sacramento; it absorbed the Central Pacific Railroad extending eastward across Nevada to Ogden, and had lines reaching north throughout and across Oregon to Portland.

Related Topics:
Texas and New Orleans Railroad - Louisiana and Texas Railroad - New Orleans - El Paso - New Mexico - Tucson, Arizona - Los Angeles - San Francisco - Sacramento - Central Pacific Railroad - Nevada - Oregon - Portland

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On August 9, 1988, the Interstate Commerce Commission approved the purchase of the Southern Pacific by Rio Grande Industries, the company that controlled the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad. The Rio Grande officially took control of the Southern Pacific on October 13, 1988. After the purchase, the combined railroad kept the Southern Pacific name due to its brand recognition in the railroad industry and with customers of both constituent railroads.

Related Topics:
August 9 - 1988 - Interstate Commerce Commission - Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad - October 13

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The Southern Pacific was taken over by the Union Pacific Railroad in 1996 following years of financial problems.

Related Topics:
Union Pacific Railroad - 1996

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The railroad is also noteworthy for being the defendant in the landmark 1886 United States Supreme Court case Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railroad which is often interpreted as having established certain corporate rights under the Constitution of the United States.

Related Topics:
1886 - United States Supreme Court - Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railroad - Corporate rights - Constitution of the United States

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